Mohs Surgery Specialist

What is Mohs surgery?

Mohs surgery is an outpatient operation designed to safely and effectively remove cancerous skin cells. During this type of surgery, Dr. Henry carefully removes cancerous skin, one layer at a time, until only cancer-free tissue remains. 

Mohs surgery works to eliminate cancerous cells without harming your healthy surrounding skin. Prior to conducting surgery, Dr. Henry administers a local anesthetic to the area being treated, ensuring you feel no pain. 

Am I a good candidate for Mohs surgery?

Only a board-certified dermatologist like Dr. Henry can determine if you’re a good candidate for Mohs surgery. However, this type of treatment has a proven track record of success in safely addressing some of the most common types of skin cancer, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. Dr. Henry also uses Mohs surgery to treat melanoma and other, rarer types of skin cancer. She might recommend Mohs surgery if:

• Your cancer presents a high risk of recurrence
• You’ve undergone various treatments for skin cancer in the past
• Your cancer has borders that are hard to define
• You have a large cancerous growth

Dr. Henry also recommends Mohs surgery to treat skin cancer near delicate areas of the body like the eyes, ears, mouth, and genitals.

Is Mohs surgery safe?

Mohs surgery is safe and well-tolerated, but like any type of surgery, there are risks. Many people experience bleeding and pain or tenderness at the surgical site. Other less common side effects include infection, scarring, or numbness around the surgical area. You can lower your risk of these and other complications by following Dr. Henry’s recovery instructions carefully and attending all of your follow-up appointments.

What happens during Mohs surgery?

Before Mohs surgery begins, Dr. Henry administers a local anesthetic. Once the anesthesia sets in, Dr. Henry uses a scalpel to carefully remove the visible portion of cancerous tissue. After removing the tissue, she places a temporary bandage on the incision.

Next, Dr. Henry takes the sample of tissue to a laboratory for further analysis. During this time, she looks at your skin under a microscope to determine the extent of the cancerous cells. Once Dr. Henry pinpoints the source and severity of your skin cancer, she returns to the operating room and removes additional layers of tissue as necessary, until your skin is entirely cancer-free. Mohs surgery usually takes several hours.

If you’re seeking skin cancer treatment, make a Mohs surgery consultation today by calling the office or booking online.